GREEN GAP: The Bronx's Pelham Bay Park, the scene of the trash above, is the city's largest green space – but doesn't reap the anywhere near the amount of private donations as the smaller Central Park.

Park Law Compliance Lags

Four years ago, the City Council passed a law to shed light on how much money was flowing into different parks across the city. Advocates were concerned that the parks system was splitting in two: in wealthy areas of the city, gleaming, innovative green spaces, buttressed by private financing sources; elsewhere, ailing parks with far fewer resources at their disposal.

The legislation required the Department of Parks and Recreation of New York City to prepare an annual report that would detail, park by park, the contributions of nonprofits and other private donors.

Yet the most recent report from the parks department, on the 2010 fiscal year, falls far short of the law’s requirements.